CASE STUDY
The Client
ProJET is an application crafted to assist individuals in their job-seeking journey. It provides users with the chance to participate in real-world projects, which are simulated by companies actively seeking talented individuals.
The Challenge
Talented individuals encounter challenges in order to secure a job. Cold applying for jobs can be time-consuming and energy-draining. The challenge is to facilitate the employment process for both potential employees and employers.
Brainstorming / Topic Map
I started by brainstorming and conducting research to figure out what are the most important challenges both potential employees and employers are facing.
As stated in a study by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, hiring an employee in a company with 0-500 people costs an average of $7,645.
User Research
My goal in conducting interviews was to understand the individual's pain points throughout their job searching process, identify the metrics that were significant to them when applying to a company, and delve into their past experiences as an employee. I aimed to uncover the expectations that potential employees encounter before and after securing a job.
I interviewed three potential employees:
A current student from a community college, a graduated student from a private university, and a self-taught talented individual with no college degree.
All of them emphasized Networking as the golden ticket to success in the competitive job market.
Affinity Mapping
After gathering information from interviewees, I started to categorize it into three groups:
1. What makes it hard to get a job? This category includes comment related to limited or no experience, the absence of a good connection, and insufficient experience working in a team on real projects
2. Work experience. This category delves into the previous work experiences of the interviewees
3. Websites. This category reveals the useful websites and tools that interviewees utilize to enhance their presence in the job market
Persona
Irina is a newcomer in the U.S. searching for a job in the design field. Despite her talent and hard work, she has encountered challenges in securing an entry-level position.
Her primary frustrations revolve around the lack of experience and networking opportunities. Additionally, she is eager to learn more about professional communication in an office environment
Competitive Analysis
My goal for conducting competitive analysis was to understand the methods and services they offer to their customers to help them finding a job.
I selected Linkedin, Behance, General Assembly, and Wix because they are valuable platforms that help individuals in different ways to secure a job.
Problem Statement
Students and talented individuals need a platform to work on real projects because they want to develop both soft skills and hard skills as well as networking, which are crucial for standing out in a competitive job market.
Designing the Solution
To address the challenges Irina faced while applying for jobs, I decided to design a project-based web app that enables her to find real or simulated projects sponsored by companies.
Each project has a host who hires talented individuals like Irina, provides support, teaches work etiquette, and monitors their process.
Irina can gain experience working with a team, enhance both hard and soft skills, build a robust portfolio, and showcase her talents in a real-world environment while growing her network.
Task Flow
I created the flow diagram to illustrate how Irina would use the platform to choose a project to work on that can help her apply her skills and also gain experience working with other individuals.
I created the flow diagram to illustrate how Irina would use the platform to choose a project to work on that can help her apply her skills and also gain experience working with other individuals.
Wireframes
Based on all the information gathered during my research phase and task flow analysis, I began sketching and creating low-fidelity wireframes. In this phase, I sought feedback
from two users on each frame, which helped me to revise my sketches quickly and efficiently.
Usability Testing
I hired three individuals to participate in the usability testing. Each session took 10 minutes at users' place and they were provided with the prototype link to do the tasks on their own phones.
Three tasks were assigned to users:
1. Find the best project that matches your goals.
2. Request to join a project.
3. In your profile Edit your portfolio.
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Users completed the tasks with little distraction or difficulty.
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​​They mentioned that creating an account is not necessary before viewing the application content.
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Users needed to keep track of the projects they liked.
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Prototype
After results from usability testing, I started to design the Final prototype
Reflection
I learned from user testing that how simplicity and intuitiveness are important in an application, especially for users who consider time as a valuable resource. They needed as less distraction as possible while they were using the app to be able to focus on the data they were looking for.
I also learned how my assumptions are different from users that might result in a completely different problem statement and design process.
I always need a user to correct me!
Next Steps
The initial phase of the project involved designing the user flow and interface for individuals who are the primary personas.
​Moving forward, the next step will be designing user flows for employers who are seeking to hire a talented employee.
